Charles H. Ingram, 1979
B.A., Denison University
National Sales Manager
Eriez Magnetics
Erie, Pa.
Citation awarded June, 2000
Charles Ingram is one of Denison’s most committed and successful volunteers. He has served in virtually every volunteer role offered by the University, including admission work, career advising for students, alumni club leadership, and fundraising. In the latter capacity, Charlie has worked on behalf of his Reunion Fund gift drives and the Higher Ground Campaign for Denison, and he has served as national chair of the President’s Associates, the class agent program, and the Annual Fund Fellows program. He has hosted students in May Term projects and he currently participates in Denison’s new Alumni and Student Leadership mentoring program. Charlie also serves as vice president of his Class.
In recent years, Charlie has been elected to several leadership positions on the Alumni Council, serving as council member-at-large (1990-92) and vice president for Alumni Clubs (1994-96), during which time the number of Denison alumni clubs grew from 24 to 32. He then served a two-year term as president of the Alumni Council and of The Society of the Alumni (1996-98). In his early years on the Council, Charlie was part of the effort to research and formulate a long-range plan for the Alumni Society, among other major initiatives. As president of the Council and the Alumni Society, Charlie was highly instrumental in promoting understanding in the aftermath of the 1995 decision to make fraternities non-residential, and he also led the Council in an effort to enhance connections between alumni and students. Serving simultaneously on Denison’s Presidential Search Committee, he guided the Council through the institution’s transition to a new president. In the fall of 2000, Charlie will begin a six-year term on Denison’s Board as an alumni-nominated trustee.
In his professional life, Charlie is National Sales Manager for Eriez Magnetics, a premier manufacturer of industrial magnetic separators, vibratory conveyors, and metal detectors in Erie, Pennsylvania. In his community he is active on the board of the Erie Center for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, and on the board of Corporators of St. Vincent Health System. He serves annually as a United Way Account Executive. Charlie and his wife Emily have two children, Kelsey and Nicholas. Charlie’s sister, Molly Ingram McDowell, is a member of the Denison Class of 1984.